Betty and Veronica Get Their Groove Back…Dark Horse Comics continues the mash-up mayhem with an exclusive edition of Archie Versus Predator #1 available to attendees at next week’s Phoenix ComicCon. Artist Darick Robertson‘s action packed scene pits Betty and Veronica against the other worldly hunter instead of each other for a change.

This variant is limited to 500 copies, maximum 5 to a customer, for $5.00 each and will be available at the Dark Horse convention booth #7052. Check below for specific sales and signing times.

Dark Horse will also offer plenty of neat swag and FREE artist signings, including Archie Versus Predator and Grindhouse‘s Alexi De Campi.

Just in case you were wondering, this ain’t your grandma’s Archie Comic as you can see from the bloody issue #2 splash page (slupt page?) below.

Just released Dark Horse “Archie Versus Predator” #2 opens with a bloody bang.

PHOENIX CONVENTION DARK HORSE SIGNING SCHEDULE
All creators signing in our booth offer their autographs for FREE. FREE prints, comics, or posters are provided for signings (while supplies last). You may purchase or bring items to be signed; however, we may restrict the type or number of items to be signed as necessary. Please note that some of the titles listed below have not been released for sale yet—in those cases, special prints will be available. Lines may also be closed for some signings due to crowding or time restrictions.

All events are subject to change. Some restrictions apply. Please ask the Dark Horse Comics staff if you have questions.

One-Two Punch…Marvel Comics has just announced a new Secret Wars title to launch on May 20, 2015. Secret Wars: Battleworld #1 will be a limited series of 4-issues. This advance look promises pages packed with epic art in every panel and a multitude of heroes and villains in outre combinations and situations across Marvel’s blistering Battleworld.

Tale of Two Battles…
Each issue will feature two distinct stories. Issue 1 is created by writers Josh Williamson and Ed Brisson, with art by Mike Henderson and Scott Hepburn. We’ll see the conjuring of Dr. Strange pack an extra punch when he melds his ethereal talents with the earthly power of The Punisher, and they’ll be a sky jamming mess of M.O.D.O.K. as Mr. Big Head enlists all the M.O.D.O.K.’s ever to do his bidding.

Collectors Get Crackin’…
Since his cameo appearance at the end of the Guardians of the Galaxy film last summer Howard the Duck has been gearing up for a reboot into the 21st Century, and Marvel Comics is making sure you won’t have to go on an Easter Egg hunt to find him.

Brace Yourself…
This April, Marvel has a flock of 20 variant covers for their WTD (“What the Duck”) month, featuring the fine feathered character in all manner of permutations and situations. The collectors’ issues will follow the launch of book, Howard the Duck #1, manned by Chip Zdarsky and Joe Quinones, which will hit shops in March.

Howard the Duck in death defying Harold Lloyd pose. All New HawkEye #2.

Four Feathers…
As a teaser, Marvel has plucked out these 4 variants that find Howard in artistic, cinematic and historic scenes inspired by Grant Wood’s “American Gothic”, Edvard Munch’s “The Scream”, actor Harold Lloyd’s daring exploits and the first Moon landing.

September 10th will see the release of Fire and Stone, issue #1 in Dark Horse Comics’ new Prometheus tie-in series. As you know the Ridley Scott film of 2012 presented a kinda-sorta prequel to the classic Alien franchise and garnered both kudos and bewildered shrugs from a fairly divided fandom audience.

Scott promises more to come on screen about the role of “the engineers” in our earthly genesis. In fact he just announced the completion of the screenplay for Prometheus 2: Paradise, as well as his long awaited Blade Runner sequel and a film called The Martian.

Prometheus 2 is slated to appear sometime in 2016, a year later than originally announced. In the meantime, this 4 book series relates the mission of a deep space salvage team on LV-223 approximately 125 years after the events in the film. We’re introduced to the crew via character Clara Atkinson’s documentary film in progress. Paul Tobin’s script sets-up plenty of personal intrigue and – as you’ve already guessed – there is way more than a routine salvage job waiting.

The interior art by Juan Ferreyra is tight with lots of detail and he gets to add some creepy creatures to the Alien pantheon, as the crew investigates the evolving flora and fauna of LV-223.

Juan Ferrerya’s interior art gives a cinematic feel to the panels.

SkeletonPete Says…Prometheus: Fire and Stone #1 is a sure thumbs up from me, and a total score for fans of the Alien mythos. I personally like the prospects of this series better than the film it references. ‘nuff said.